Subaru head gasket cost
Discussion
A friend in Canuck land has a Subaru Baja with the 2.5 flat four engine. 2006 model, 80,000 miles and using water now. They're famed for killing head gaskets, at least on early models and she's been told this is what it is. Quote is $6,000 Canuck dollars (£3,500 UK) which seems steep to me. Engine out job obviously on the flat 4 but still no biggie. What might be a fair price in either UK money or Canuck Loonies from those who do this sort of thing for a living? I'm out of touch with prices.
Not familiar with a Baja....
But yes it is an engine out job, although I have heard of some utterly insane people who've manged to get the heads off with the engine in the car. Why anyone would even attempt that is truly beyond me !!!
But even worst case on some of the modern turbo Subarus, which have so much crap bolted to them it just takes longer to remove the engine, you're only talking a day to remove, day to refit and whatever you're charged for head skimming etc.
Head gaskets...worst case give or take, £120 for a pair.
Again worst case, and totally unnecessary, full timing belt kit circa £380. But I have never in around 20 years working around these seen a car that actually needed a full kit unless the owner had done serious miles and never looked near the damn thing.
Reality....just a belt possibly an idler and possibly tensioner. Likes of BRT can supply all of those.
But again, rare anything other than a belt is actually needed. So say £40-50 for a belt.
Then usual, antifreeze, oil, usual service crap it does no harm to do at the same time. I cant really see any reason for such a job to exceed £1k doing it right, unless some other issues are found during the job.
And as most Subarus run solid lifters, definitely check cam/lifter clearances when it's apart, as from 01+ til around 06/07 most engines were quite prone to valves receding leading to burnt exhaust valves.
But yes it is an engine out job, although I have heard of some utterly insane people who've manged to get the heads off with the engine in the car. Why anyone would even attempt that is truly beyond me !!!
But even worst case on some of the modern turbo Subarus, which have so much crap bolted to them it just takes longer to remove the engine, you're only talking a day to remove, day to refit and whatever you're charged for head skimming etc.
Head gaskets...worst case give or take, £120 for a pair.
Again worst case, and totally unnecessary, full timing belt kit circa £380. But I have never in around 20 years working around these seen a car that actually needed a full kit unless the owner had done serious miles and never looked near the damn thing.
Reality....just a belt possibly an idler and possibly tensioner. Likes of BRT can supply all of those.
But again, rare anything other than a belt is actually needed. So say £40-50 for a belt.
Then usual, antifreeze, oil, usual service crap it does no harm to do at the same time. I cant really see any reason for such a job to exceed £1k doing it right, unless some other issues are found during the job.
And as most Subarus run solid lifters, definitely check cam/lifter clearances when it's apart, as from 01+ til around 06/07 most engines were quite prone to valves receding leading to burnt exhaust valves.
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